Device for removing ice from railroad rails.



THOMASF. LEE, 0] MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.'

DEVICE FOR REMOVING ICE FROM RAILROAD-RAILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed January 3, 1916. Serial No. 69,896.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. LEE, citizen of the United States, resident of an attachment for a locomotive by means of which an accumulation of ice on the railroad rails can be easily and quickly removed.

A further object is to provide a device which will be under the immediate control of the engineer in the cab and may be made operative or inoperative at will.

The invention consists generally in various constructions and combinations, all as hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward portion of a 1000- motive, showing my invention applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a detail view, showing the position of the ward trucks of the locomotive, Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view'of one of the nozzles, Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line w-w of Fig. 3.

In the drawing, 2 represents a locomotive of ordinary construction, having forward trucks 3 and cow-catcher 4.

5 is a pipe running back to the boiler through the cab, where suitable means is provided within control of theengineer for regulating the admission of steam thereto. At the forward end of the pipe 5 is a coupling 6 and from this coupling pipes 7 extend downwardly to a point in front of the trucks and in the rear of the cow-catcher and are supported on the cow-catcher by suitable means, such as brackets 8. Each of these pipes is provided witha nipple 9 device with respect to the for-.

in which a nozzle 10 is mounted. This nozzle has an opening 11 therein with gradually converging walls terminating in an outlet orlfice 12 that is comparatively small in cross sectionalarea. This orifice is located near the top of the track rail 13 and should the engineer see ice on the rails which would interfere with the operation of the locomotive, he can turn on the steam, which,

being. discharged through the nozzles 10,

will very quickly melt the ice which may have formed on the rail head and the engine will pass over the point where the ice has been melted before it has had time to form again. I

It will be noted that the nozzles are arranged at an angle to the rail heads and. the jets of steam will be directed down upon these heads in such a way that the ice will be rapidly and thoroughly melted.

I claim as my invention:

The combination, with a locomotive, of a steam supply pipe arranged beneath and connected with the boiler for taking live steam therefrom, said pipe being centrally arrangedv substantially with respect to the boiler and having couplings at its forward end in advance of the locomotive driving wheels, of tubes radiating outwardly and downwardly from said couplings to a position in the rear of the cow-catcher and in front of the forward trucks, and nozzles mounted on the lower ends of said tubes 'andhaving tapered passa es therein terminating in substantially circular, restricted outlet openings and supported above and adjacent to the track rails, said nozzles directing the steam vertically upon the heads of the rails and having means for bracing said nozzles on the locomotive frame.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of December, 1915.

THOMAS J. LEE.

T. 1. LEE. DEWCE FORBEMOVING ICE FROM RAILROAD RAILS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-3. I916- Patented Nov. 21, 1916. 

